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Cavan

75 primary schools and 9,711 pupils in 2025/26.

Pupils in 2025/26
9,711
−87 on 2024/25
Schools
75
No change on 2024/25
Average school size
129.5
−1.1 on 2024/25
Average class size
21.24
−0.21 on 2024/25

Counts every school that reported in each year, including schools that have since closed. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.

Pupils

9,711

−87 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

75

107 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

129.5

76.9 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

21.24

−0.21 on 2024/25

2006/072025/26

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

75 schools with figures for both years

28fell by 10% or more
24within 10%
23grew by 10% or more
Down 25% or more · 9Down 10 to 25% · 19Within 10% · 24Up 10 to 25% · 9Up 25% or more · 14

Average class size in these schools went from 24.2 in 2015/16 to 21.2 in 2025/26. 20 of the 28 schools that fell by 10% or more kept or added classes. A fall in pupils can mean smaller classes rather than fewer children wanting places. Smaller classes

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 Kill N SCootehill, Co. Cavan 76 → 126 +65.8%
  2. 2 Scoil Naomh BridRedhills, Co. Cavan 72 → 108 +50.0%
  3. 3 Milltown N SMilltown, Co. Cavan 116 → 173 +49.1%
  4. 4 Kilnaleck Mixed N SKilnaleck, Co. Cavan 78 → 106 +35.9%
  5. 5 Darley N SCootehill, Co. Cavan 96 → 130 +35.4%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 S N Corr LorganCavan, Co. Cavan 103 → 65 −36.9%
  2. 2 S N Carraig A BruisVirginia, Co. Cavan 157 → 103 −34.4%
  3. 3 Castlerahan Central NSBallyjamesduff, Co. Cavan 141 → 96 −31.9%
  4. 4 Killeshandra National School ( C of I)Killeshandra, Co. Cavan 66 → 48 −27.3%
  5. 5 Aughadreena National SchoolStradone, Co. Cavan 115 → 87 −24.3%

Ranked by percentage change. Only schools with 50 or more pupils in 2015/16 are ranked, leaving out any still filling their classes then, because a few pupils make a big percentage in a small or new school. An amalgamation, a new school nearby or smaller classes can also explain a big rise or fall.

Break Cavan down

Select a group to see its schools, pupils and class sizes.

Planning areas

Change over
Cavan 18 2,925 162.5 21.44 133
+6.1%
+45.2%
Bailieborough 13 1,748 134.5 21.37 79
−4.3%
+16.6%
Ballyjamesduff 10 1,301 130.1 22.59 56
−10.1%
+15.7%
Virginia 5 1,139 227.8 22.22 50
−3.9%
+31.4%
Cootehill 7 717 102.4 19.44 36
+9.6%
+66.4%
Belturbet 7 666 95.1 21.20 30
+17.0%
+44.5%
Bawnboy 5 424 84.8 20.30 20
+20.1%
+25.8%
Granard 2 257 128.5 22.82 11
−8.5%
+17.4%
Oldcastle 1 158 158.0 23.50 6
+0.6%
+24.4%
Carrigallen 2 133 66.5 16.43 7
−16.9%
−28.5%
Moyne 2 116 58.0 16.57 7
−26.1%
+1.8%
Manorhamilton 1 60 60.0 20.00 3
−13.0%
−27.7%
Ballinamore 1 47 47.0 15.67 3
+38.2%
−26.6%
Drumkeerin 1 20 20.0 10.00 2
+33.3%
−42.9%

Changes count today's schools and any that closed from 2023/24; earlier closures aren't in any planning area, so changes run high, more so since 2005/06. Known data issues · All planning areas in Ireland

Patrons
Bishop of Kilmore 57 7,933 139.2 21.37 360
Bishop of Meath 4 609 152.2 21.70 27
Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise 3 368 122.7 21.88 16
Bishop of Kilmore Elphin & Ardagh COI 7 338 48.3 16.90 20
An Foras Pátrúnachta 1 193 193.0 22.62 8
Joint patronage between Bishop of Kilmore Elphin & Ardagh COI and the Presbyterian Moderator 1 130 130.0 23.80 5
Minister for Education & Skills 1 83 83.0 20.75 4
Bishop of Meath & Kildare COI 1 57 57.0 19.00 3

Local authorities
Cavan County Council 75 9,711 129.5 21.24 443

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 9,408 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size
21.24
Mainstream classes
443
Largest class
35
Classes of 30 or more
19
Schools with a class of 30+
13

Teachers

Teachers in the 75 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers
Class teachers in 2025/26
443
Up 108 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 19%
Teaching posts in 2025/26
about 674
Estimate: 443 class teachers, 29 principals and deputies, 150 special education and 52 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16
552
The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25
6 / 7
6 schools gained a class teacher, 7 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

1 special school in Cavan, and the special classes in its 75 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools
Pupils in special schools
182
In 1 school, up from 156 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26
52
In 24 of 75 schools. 31 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27
59
In 28 schools: 7 new classes, 4 schools with their first
Autism classes
43
83% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

In Cavan's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists

  • 2020/21 31
  • 2021/22 33
  • 2022/23 36
  • 2023/24 40
  • 2024/25 46
  • 2025/26 52
  • 2026/27 59

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special school Pupils Since 2015/16 Teaching posts SNAs
Holy Family S SCootehill · Moderate general learning disability 182
+16.7%
30 67

Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).

What parents would prefer

2,493 of the 6,495 households with children at the 70 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 5 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures
The Department's own results: School reports for Co. Cavan (PDF)Interactive mapSummary report with county figures (PDF)
Prefer a multi-denominational patron
35%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish
17%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex
3%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

By school planning area

The Department publishes the answers of parents of children not yet at school by planning area only, so these are whole areas, including any part in another county.

Compare all 314 areas
Planning area Schools here Households answered Multi-denominationalThrough IrishSingle-sex
At schoolNot yetAt schoolNot yetAt schoolNot yet
Cavan 18 890 (34%) 41% 39% 17% 23% 4% 6%
BailieboroughAlso in Co. Meath 13 717 (47%) 29% 33% 16% 19% 1% 2%
Ballyjamesduff 10 481 (46%) 30% 30% 16% 22% 0% 1%
Belturbet 7 237 (40%) 38% 41% 18% 23% 6% 4%
CootehillAlso in Co. Monaghan 7 352 (42%) 30% 35% 17% 29% 1% 2%
Bawnboy 5 131 (38%) 28% 37% 19% 20% 1% 0%
Virginia 5 438 (46%) 43% 43% 17% 24% 1% 1%
CarrigallenAlso in Co. Leitrim 2 161 (44%) 31% 34% 15% 30% 2% 2%
GranardAlso in Co. Longford, Co. Westmeath 2 372 (60%) 32% 23% 15% 21% 2% 1%
MoyneAlso in Co. Longford 2 320 (54%) 30% 27% 17% 20% 0% 1%
BallinamoreAlso in Co. Leitrim 1 269 (57%) 35% 28% 21% 18% 2% 3%
DrumkeerinAlso in Co. Leitrim 1 96 (42%) 39% 28% 13% 24% 0% 0%
ManorhamiltonAlso in Co. Leitrim 1 205 (42%) 47% 34% 15% 15% 2% 1%
OldcastleAlso in Co. Meath 1 228 (53%) 34% 42% 18% 25% 0% 2%

Grey: fewer than 60 parents of children not yet at school answered in that area, so a handful of answers moves the figure a long way.

Each count opens those schools in Find schools, with each school's figures.

Source: Department of Education and Youth, Primary School Survey results, published 23 June 2026. Figures here add up the parents at each school with its own results.

Schools in Cavan

75 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Cavan (CSV)
Change over

Select a column heading to sort

Roll number
St Clares Primary SchoolCavan 08490N 548
+4.8%
+59.3%
29 18.72 24 0
Virginia MXD N SVirginia 16083T 463
+11.3%
+66.5%
20 22.85 32 1
St Clares NSBallyjamesduff 19983B 422
−4.7%
+111.0%
17 24.12 29 0
St Josephs N SKingscourt 20172R 377
−11.3%
+20.1%
15 23.60 30 1
St Killians N SMullagh 19608V 328
−6.3%
+56.9%
14 22.14 28 0
Bailieboro N SBailieborough 18059J 288
+4.0%
+1.1%
15 16.87 28 0
SN Naomh Feidhlim Boys SNR SCHCavan 17326B 265
+16.2%
+56.8%
14 17.93 22 0
Butlersbridge NSButlersbridge 19326L 261
+12.0%
+141.7%
10 25.50 31 3
St Michaels National SchoolCootehill 20277I 232
+6.9%
– 13 17.85 24 0
S N Beal Atha na nEachBallinagh 16921K 229
+0.9%
+15.7%
9 24.11 32 2
Dromaili S NCavan 11541V 213
−12.7%
0.0%
9 23.67 29 0
Ballyconnell MXD N SBallyconnell 16093W 199
+26.8%
+116.3%
8 22.62 28 0
Killygarry N SKillygarry 14399N 198
−4.8%
+39.4%
8 24.75 28 0
Gaelscoil BhreifneAn Cabhán 20026G 193
+436.1%
+119.3%
8 22.62 28 0
S N LeitirBailieborough 18564W 187
−2.6%
+50.8%
7 26.71 32 2
Castletara N SBallyhaise 14073G 183
+15.8%
+258.8%
7 23.57 31 1
Searcog I N SShercock 14336M 183
−3.2%
+18.1%
7 26.14 32 2
S N CruabanaiCrubany 08453H 174
−10.8%
+87.1%
7 24.86 32 2
Milltown N SMilltown 08948L 173
+49.1%
+188.3%
7 23.00 28 0
Mullahoran Central N SKilcogy 19363R 164
−3.0%
+20.6%
7 22.57 26 0
Convent of Mercy N SBelturbet 16057S 163
+0.6%
+24.4%
7 23.29 27 0
Cnoc an TeampaillVirginia 17625L 158
+0.6%
+24.4%
6 23.50 29 0
Ballyhaise N SBallyhaise 17780A 152
+16.9%
+7.8%
6 24.33 26 0
Killinkere N SVirginia 15502I 151
−12.7%
−10.1%
7 21.57 29 0
S N Doire na CeiseCootehill 17601U 143
+8.3%
−2.7%
6 22.83 30 1
S N LathrachStradone 18833A 140
+12.0%
+14.8%
5 28.00 35 1
Darley N SCootehill 12312L 130
+35.4%
+136.4%
5 23.80 31 1
S N Lathrach 2Kingscourt 14211P 129
+3.2%
+50.0%
6 21.50 24 0
Kill N SCootehill 19285A 126
+65.8%
+75.0%
5 25.20 30 1
Crosskeys Central N SCrosskeys 19432K 118
−0.8%
−16.9%
5 23.60 28 0
Ballynarry N SKilnaleck 19378H 111
+26.1%
+7.8%
5 19.80 27 0
Baile na MonaBailieboro 17531C 108
−11.5%
+13.7%
5 21.60 25 0
Scoil Naomh BridRedhills 17230L 108
+50.0%
+45.9%
5 18.00 26 0
Kilnaleck Mixed N SKilnaleck 01356U 106
+35.9%
+130.4%
5 21.20 28 0
S N Carraig A BruisVirginia 18857O 103
−34.4%
−36.4%
5 19.80 26 0
Cavan 1 N SCavan 11517B 102
+25.9%
+70.0%
4 25.50 27 0
St Marys N SArva 16316Q 102
−20.3%
+12.1%
5 20.40 24 0
Castlerahan Central NSBallyjamesduff 19418Q 96
−31.9%
−25.6%
4 21.00 25 0
Drumkilly NSKilnaleck 19202Q 96
−23.8%
−25.6%
4 24.00 28 0
S N CillinMullagh 18393V 94
+5.6%
+88.0%
4 23.50 29 0
Scoil BhrideMountnugent 14732U 94
−22.3%
−15.3%
4 23.50 28 0
Crosserlough N SCrosserlough 19596R 93
−19.8%
−22.5%
4 23.25 27 0
St Patricks MXD N SLoch Gowna 13203L 93
−17.0%
+12.0%
4 23.25 27 0
Scoil MhuireBallinagh 17479D 92
−5.2%
+33.3%
4 23.00 26 0
Aughadreena National SchoolStradone 18355N 87
−24.3%
+24.3%
4 21.75 25 0
Scoil BhrideKilleshandra 16390F 85
−9.6%
−34.6%
4 16.75 20 0
Bailieboro Model N SBailieborough 05627W 83
−8.8%
+29.7%
4 20.75 25 0
S N Tamhnach DhuibhBailieborough 17240O 83
−1.2%
+20.3%
4 20.75 24 0
Billis N SBallyjamesduff 12099O 78
−22.0%
+5.4%
4 19.50 22 0
S N Aodhain NaofaBawnboy 19679V 76
+31.0%
−11.6%
4 19.00 24 0
SN Mhuire Boys Senior SchoolBelturbet 18127A 74
0.0%
+42.3%
3 24.67 30 1
Killyconnan N SStradone 15120R 72
−23.4%
−30.1%
4 18.00 24 0
S N Greach RathainBelturbet 18346M 69
+19.0%
+15.0%
3 23.00 28 0
S N Naomh MaodhogBallyconnell 17440W 68
−13.9%
−10.5%
3 22.67 24 0
S N Corr LorganCavan 18518P 65
−36.9%
−36.9%
3 21.67 23 0
St PatricksBallinagh 19568M 63
+10.5%
+16.7%
3 21.00 24 0
St Patricks N SBlacklion 19871N 60
−13.0%
−27.7%
3 20.00 25 0
Cabra Central N SKingscourt 19527V 57
−16.2%
−1.7%
3 19.00 22 0
S N MhuireSwanlibar 08143P 57
+39.0%
−21.9%
3 19.00 23 0
S N MaodhogBailieborough 17630E 54
+12.5%
+1.9%
3 18.00 22 0
S N PadraigCootehill 18340A 51
−7.3%
−13.6%
3 17.00 20 0
St Michaels N. S.Stradon 20134J 50
−15.3%
−18.0%
3 16.00 20 0
Kilmore Central N SKilmore 19322D 49
−22.2%
+75.0%
3 16.33 18 0
Killeshandra National School ( C of I)Killeshandra 11205F 48
−27.3%
−14.3%
3 16.00 18 0
S N Drom CnamhDrumcrave 17990L 47
−7.8%
+95.8%
3 15.67 19 0
St Patrick's NSC/O Belturbet Post Office 06998Q 47
+38.2%
−26.6%
3 15.67 20 0
Kildallon N SBallyconnell 15452T 46
−8.0%
+21.1%
3 15.33 18 0
Fairgreen N SBelturbet 13271F 33
−10.8%
−28.3%
2 16.50 18 0
St Mary's N.S.Ballyhaise 16520P 31
−34.0%
−53.0%
2 15.50 16 0
Ballyconell Central N SBallyconnell 11409V 24
+33.3%
+140.0%
2 12.00 13 0
S N CorrabhaGlangevlin 16959M 20
+33.3%
−42.9%
2 10.00 13 0
Corliss N SKilleshandra 10146K 19
−34.5%
−29.6%
2 9.50 15 0
Coronea N SArva 16767D 14
−51.7%
−39.1%
2 7.00 8 0
Corlea N SKingscourt 14320U 9
−59.1%
−30.8%
2 4.50 7 0
Drung No 2 NSDrung 19921C 4
−87.1%
−87.5%
2 2.00 2 0